Pope Francis writes - “Happiness can't be bought. And when you buy happiness, you realise that the happiness that is bought does not last. Only the happiness of love lasts”.

How true that is. Especially in the hospital wards, when peoples worlds and lives are suddenly turned upside down. Perhaps when someone is viewing the world from their hospital bed, everything becomes simpler in terms of what matters the most. The busyness of life and distractions comes to an abrupt halt. A search for meaning and purpose begins. And this is usually ultimately a search for love, comfort and hope. I think we are all in need of simplicity - I learn so much from my time with the Poor Clares.

I returned to two patients today, who are nearing the end of their lives. Nothing but the love of their friends and family matter. That's what it comes down to, not any material possessions or happiness that has been bought, but the happiness of love and often the comfort of holding a simple wooden cross.

“Love is patient, Love is kind” Love and the voice of God isn't loud and over the top, it's a “still, small voice” So many kind words and gestures of care and love are in that form.

It's paying attention and noticing the smaller things that lead to the most meaningful encounters sometimes. Sometimes the small things are actually the greatest acts of love. I notice this often amongst all the caring staff - from nurses to reception staff, porters and cleaners.

So many people think that as they haven't been to church or don't go / are unable to go to church, that they are somehow not worthy of God's love or as being a Christian. These are in fact the people who seem to have the deepest connections to God, often with the most profound messages to share -demonstrated through their love for others. One patient I spoke to had been helping and advocating for a patient in the next bed. Despite being unwell and bed bound, they had reached out to someone in their time of greatest need. We laughed about how they had become part of the Chaplaincy team. After a prayer for healing, I left this patient with a heart stone as a reminder of God's love and a stone which had the word “happiness” on it. It's certainly what this patient reflected to others. It reminded me of “The Path of Happiness” a song from the Poor Clares album, My Peace I Give You.

I will never take it for granted how great a privilege it is to be invited into someone's space to talk, and then be trusted with hearing their stories at such a vulnerable time in their lives. One patient just wanted to be listened to, to search again for meaning and purpose. This came through connecting with football, something that is also a great passion of mine! When someone can connect back to something that helps ground them back into something that brings them love and joy it is one of the most rewarding encounters. I gave this patient a blue heart pebble, the same colour as their football team. When leaving I said I would keep them in my prayers, they said they would remember me through that stone. I hope that they won't necessarily remember me, but God's love for them. They happened to choose a stone with the word “love” on it, perhaps the seed was already planted.

For another patient, is was simply reconnecting them with the pattern of a routine and encouraging them to start writing, something that had clearly come up in our shared conversation as something that ignited happiness.

Walking through A&E, it was approaching someone in the far corner who couldn't hear that was the most touching. Somehow communication is always possible when done with love and with God working through us. God shines out of us through our eyes and our hearts which feed into our thoughts and our actions.

We ended up communicating by writing on paper, writing down “would you like a prayer?” led to reading the Lord's prayer together and hopefully sharing some love and hope.

One patient spoke about how beautiful nature is. Again, something that God's love is ever present in. A robin singing in the trees, a seagull flying over the sea, the sun breaking through finally after days of grey clouds.

We don't always see the sun, but we know it's always there. The same way we always have love, we don't always feel it, but it's there waiting for us when we can see past the clouds again.

I left quite a few heart pebbles in the hospital chapel today - they have almost all been taken. I pray that they have helped someone feel loved, or been passed onto someone else with love. I hope that I have left a trail of heart pebbles, Bibles and prayers (both spoken and unspoken) around the hospital this Valentine's day.

Hopefully patients have been reminded of the love that God has for each of us, every minute of every day. No matter where we are. “if I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

I will always be grateful for the calling into chaplaincy - to share God's love with those on the margins, with those most in need. Some, who perhaps will never set foot in a church, but need to find God's love through an encounter being met where they are. Where there is love, there is hope, peace and comfort.

Shared with me today - “Look back in grateful remembrance so you can look forward in confident hope.”

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13 4-8